Educational device.



S. H. FANNING.

EDUCATIONAL DEVIGE.

APPLIUATIOH FILED DEO.12, 1911.

Patented Sept. 10,1912.

SHEET 1.

3 SHEETS- s. H. FANNING. EDUCATIONAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.12, 1911.

1,033,332, Patented Sept. 10,1912

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PIANOGIAI'N G0" WMIIINGIUN, D- C.

UNITED snares PATENT OFFICE. I

SAM H. FANNING, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO. HOMER FRADY, QF DALLAS, TEXAS. i

EDUCATIONAL nnvron.

Specification of LetterslPatent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, SAM H. FANNING, citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Educational Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in educational appliances, and has for one of its objects to provide a simply constructed combined folding desk, blackboard, and scroll, the scroll designed to contain copies or studies in convenient position to be trans ferred to the blackboard, and a map cabinet of improved construction, with the desk portion of the device so arranged that the maps may be drawn outwardly thereover when required.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and de scribed, and then specifically pointed out in the claim, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device with the deskportion in open position and with one of the maps drawn outwardly over the desk; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the body portion of the device with the blackboard side of the desk member exposed and in position for use and with the scroll uncovered; Fig. 3 is a perspective .view of the supporting frame and roller supports of the map cabinet detached and viewed from the rear; Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional elevation of the improved device; Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the supporting frame of the scroll; Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail of the scroll-supporting frame.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved device comprises a body or casing 10 of any suitable size and with a closed upper end 11, a closed lower end 12, and open at the rear, and with an intermediate vertical partition 13. The space rearwardly of the partition 13, is preferably occupied by a plurality of shelves 14 to form a bookcase. The space between the partition and the front is provided with a transverse similar transverse partition 16 spaced above the bottom 12 of the casing. The front of the casing 10 above the partition 15 is provided with a front member 17 having a longitudinal opening 18, the front 17 with its opening 18, forming a partial closure to the front of the compartment between the partition 15 and the top 11. A slot is formed in the top 11 next to the front member 17, and movably disposed through this slot is a slide 19 which covers the opening 18 when in its ,lower position. The member 19 is movable upwardly from above the top 11 and rear'wardlyof the member 17 as shown in Fig. 3, and operates to cut off the view through the opening 18 when in its lower position, and to uncover the opening when in its upper position.

Located within the compartment rearwardly of the member 1.7, is a scroll-supporting frame formed of end members 20, and connecting member 21. The end mem bers 20 project at their upper and lower ends into engagement respectively with the inner faces of the members 11 and 15 so that when the 7 end members 20 and the connecting member 21 are united, they fit closely within the compartment and are removably supported. In this'manner the scroll-supporting frame may be inserted into the compartment and removed therefrom by detaching the member 17. I

-E:itending between the end members 20 above the connecting member 21, is a roller 22, while a similar roller 23 extends between the frame members below the member 21. Extending between the frame members 20 rearwardly ofthe member 21, are two other rollers ge-eathe rollers 2l25 being preferably-slightly nearer together than the rollers '2223.

Each of the rollers is provided with journals at the ends as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, the journals being represented conventionally at 26. The rollers 24--25 are provided at each end with guard disks 27,

and surrounding the journals between the guard disks and the compartments 20 and likewise between the ends of the rollers 22-23, and the frames 20, are springs 28, the springs operating to produce the requisite tension of the rollers. A flexible sheet of suitable material represented at 29, is

connected at its ends respectively to the partition spaced below the top 11, and a rollers 24-25 and passes around the rollers 2223 and forms a scroll upon which various objects or characters maybe represented. By this arrangement it will be obvious that the sheet 29 may be wound upon one of the rear rollers and unwound from the other by simply applying rotary motion to the rear rollers, and to enable the motion to be readily applied, the casing 10 opposite the journals is provided with apertures through which a turning crank represented at 30, may be inserted, the apertures being preferably provided with suitable bushings 31 to protect the wood of the casing from contact with the crank. By this means no portion of the scroll mechanism projects beyond the casing, while at the same time the journals of the scroll device are readily accessible when the latter is to be rotated.

The sheet 29 may be of any required length vand contain any required matter, such as pictures, drawing and painting lessons, penmanship copies, figures, letters and other data. The portion of the sheet 29 which extends between the forward rollers 22-23, extends past the opening 18 and is visible therethrough, and no other portion of the scroll or sheet is exposed. By elevating the closure member 19 the figures or other data upon the scroll which for the time being is located opposite the opening 18, are exposed to view, and by rotating the scroll or sheet any required portion of the scroll may be thus exposed and the remaining portion of the scroll concealed, and when the scroll is not in use the cover member 19 may be moved into its lower position, and thus protect and conceal. the scroll. Located in the compartment between the shelf 16 and the bottom 12 of the casing, is another and detachable casing shown in Fig. 3, and comprises an imperfora-te bottom 32, ends 33 and front 34, the rear edges ofthe ends being higher than the front edges so that their upper ends slope downwardly toward the front, as shown. Detachably secured upon the inclined upper ends of the ends 33 and the upper edge of the front 34, is a top member 35 having a plurality of longitudinally extending slots 36, the rear slot opening rearwardly and above the rear open side of the casing. The member 35 is detachably secured in position by screws or other suitable fastening devices 37 Gonnected to the end members 33 are brackets 38 for supporting a plurality of rollers represented conventionally at 39, the rollers being preferably of the ordinary spring form employed in connect-ion with window curtains, but as the construction of these rollers is so well known, it is not thought necessary to further illustrate them. The slots 36 will correspond in number with the rollers 39, so that each of the rollers is provided with one of the slots.

Any required number of the rollers may be employed, but for the purpose of illustration four of the rollers and four of the slots are shown. The rollers are designed to support maps, charts or other similar devices, and each map or chart will be extended through one of the slots and provided with a pull strap 40 accessible from the open front of the casing.

The bottom of the casing 10 at the front is projected slightly outward to form a ledge 41, and located between the sides of the casing 10, and above the ledge 41, is a combined desk and blackboard device represented as a whole at 42. One face of the member 42 is preferably covered with a suitable fabric to form a desk surface, while at its opposite side the member 42 is provided with outwardly projected side members 43, each having an inwardly directed longitudinal groove or channel to receive a plate 44 of any suitable material such as heavy cardboard forming a covering for the main surface which is preferably of blackboard material as indicated at 45. By this means a combined blackboard and desk feature is provided, and the improved device is so arranged that either side may be presented outwardly for use.

Formed in the inner faces of the end members of the casing 10 near the ledge 41, are outwardly opening sockets 46, and projecting from the side members 43 at their lower ends, are pins 47 adapted to enter the sockets 46 when the combined desk and blackboard member is in closed position, or located between the end members of the easing 10 as shown in Fig. 3. The combined desk and blackboard member is constructed to completely fill the space between the side members of the casing 10 and the bottom 12, and the transverse member 15 when in closed position.

Formed in the end members of the casing 10 are other sockets or guideways 48 spaced above the sockets 46, to receive the pins 47 when the combined desk and blackboard member is arranged as a desk, as shown in Fig. 1. Pivoted at 4950 to the end members of the casing 10 and near the upper ends of the space occupied by the combined desk and blackboard member, are slotted bars 5152, and pivoted at 5354 to the desk member, are other bars 55-56. The bar 55 is provided with a lateral headed pin 57 slidably engaging in the slot of the bar 51, while the bar 56 is provided with a similar headed pin 58 slidably engaging in the slot of the bar 52. Projecting inwardly from the end members of the casing 10 and located between the sockets 48 and pivots 4950 are stop pins 5960. The bars 51-55 and 5256 are so proportioned that they fold together in substantial parallel relations when the combined desk and blackboard member is in its closed position, as shown in Fig. 3. and support the desk in its open position when the pins 47 are inserted into the sockets 48 as shown in Fig. 1, the pins 57-58 then being located at the outer ends of the slots of the bars 5152. .The casing which contains the maps or charts, is so located that when the desk is in its open position as shown in Fig. 1, the maps may be drawn upwardly over the inner edge of the desk and lie upon the upper or desk face as shown in Fig. 1. Connected to the top member 11 of the casing is a hook 61 in position to receive the ring at the terminal of the pull tapes -10 of the, maps, and is utilized to support any one of the maps or charts in vertical position in front of the casing if required.

Attached to the front of the end members of the casing 10 and spaced below the transverse member 15 are staples or keepers 62, and mounted to swing at 63 upon the desk member are hooks 64 adapted to engage in the staples 62 when the desk is closed, and thus lock the latter in closed position as shown. Hooks 65 project from the member 17 near its lower edge and are designed to receive the hooks 64c of the combined desk and blackboard member and support the latter with the blackboard face outwardly, and when the desk is thus arranged the bars 5152 extend vertically and bear against the stop pins 5960 while the bars 56 extend substantially in horizontal position, and support the lower portion of the combined desk and blackboard member in an outwardly and downwardly inclined position as shown in Fig. 2. When the device is to be employed as a blackboard, it will be understood that the cover member 44 is removed.

The space between the members 15.16 is occupied by suitable shelves, pigeon holes and the like, and will also preferably be occupied by a portfolio device formed of a plurality of leaves 66 having binder members 67 at the lower ends and coupled by a plurality of pins 68. The outer leaf of the portfolio is preferably heavier than the remaining leaves and forms a cover to the portfolio. Any required number of leaves may be employed and provided with any suitable matter. The pins 68 are removable to enable the leaves 66 to be changed as required. Connected within the receptacle 10 is a, swinging arm 69 which extends over the outer face of the portfolio or book, and is provided with springs 70 operating to yieldably support the portfolio in upright position, but permitting the leaves to be turned down one at a time as required.

' Connected beneath the bottom member 12 of the casing, is an annular bearing plate 71, and extending through the member 12 is a center bolt or pin 72. Mounted for rotation upon the pin 72, is. a disk 73 having supporting legs 74 depending therefrom. The legs 74 are connected by a transverse combined shelf and brace 75, and the legs are likewise provided with suitable casters 76. Embedded in the upper face of the disk 73, is an annular trough-like member 77 in which bearing balls 78 are disposed. The member 77 corresponds in outline to the bearing ring 71, and is located directly beneath thelatter, so that the balls bear constantly against the under face of the ring. By this means a simply constructed pedestal or support is provided for the casing 10 and its attachments and upon which the latter is rotatably mounted.

Having thus described the invention, what i is claimed as new is:

In a device ofthe class described an open casing, an upper receptacle above the casing, a lower receptacle below the casing, a-

flexible member movable within the upper receptacle and visible through the front of the same, a desk having a blackboard face and swinging relative to the casing, and a plurality of flexible members within the lower receptacle and movable over the desk.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAM H. FANNING. [L. 5.] Witnesses:

R. C. FERRIS, H. H. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

